Ultrasonic cutting apparatus and method
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsRobert G. Engle, Wendy A. Foster, Fugui He, Douglas G. Maley, Harold Moore, David J. Regan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An ultrasonic apparatus and method for cutting a non-planar workpiece. The apparatus includes an anvil having a non-planar surface for closely engaging an underside of the workpiece. An ultrasonic horn has a non-planar cutting surface closely receiving a topside of the workpiece, wherein the cutting surface and the support surface have complementary non-planar shapes. The ultrasonic horn resonates at a predetermined frequency effect cutting of the workpiece. If the workpiece has a heat fusible component, the workpiece can also be seamed.
Claims7
A method for ultrasonically cutting a non-planar workpiece, comprising:
- supporting an underside of the non-planar workpiece at a cutting area with a non-planar anvil surface;
- closely receiving a topside of the non-planar workpiece with a non-planar cutting surface of an ultrasonic horn, the cutting surface and the anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes;
- resonating the ultrasonic horn at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the anvil surface in a plane extending through the workpiece, anvil surface, and ultrasonic horn;
- and
- cutting the workpiece.
A method for ultrasonically cutting and seaming a non-planar workpiece having a heat fusible component, comprising:
- supporting an underside of the non-planar workpiece at a cutting area with a non-planar anvil surface;
- closely receiving a topside of the non-planar workpiece with a non-planar cutting surface of an ultrasonic horn, the cutting surface and the anvil surface having complementary non-planar shapes;
- resonating the ultrasonic horn at a predetermined frequency toward and away from the anvil surface in a plane extending through the workpiece, anvil surface, and ultrasonic horn;
- cutting the workpiece to form a plurality of edges;
- and
- seaming the edges of the workpiece.
A method for generating a plurality of cuts in a non-planar workpiece, each workpiece having a topside and an underside, comprising:
- supporting an underside of the non-planar workpiece at a cutting area with a plurality of non-planar anvil surfaces;
- closely receiving a topside of the non-planar workpiece with a plurality of non-planar cutting surfaces of an ultrasonic horn, each of the plurality of cutting surfaces being associated with one of the plurality of anvil surfaces, each of the cutting surfaces and the associated anvil surfaces having complementary non-planar shapes;
- resonating the ultrasonic horn at a predetermined frequency to move the cutting surfaces toward and away from the associated anvil surfaces in a plane extending through the workpiece, anvil surface, and ultrasonic horn;
- cutting the workpiece to form a plurality of cut edges;
- and
- seaming the cut edges of the workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.